2025 June - Pro Football Rumors

Month: June 2025

Dolphins Trade Jalen Ramsey To Steelers For Minkah Fitzpatrick

June 30th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jalen Ramsey trade saga is coming to an end. The All-Pro corner is on the move, but not out west as many predicted.

The Dolphins have reached agreement with the Steelers on a Ramsey swap, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Pittsburgh recently emerged as the most recent team likely to be eliminated from the list of landing spots in this case, but a trade has nevertheless been worked out and is now official. Ramsey will receive a $3MM bump in pay as part of this deal.

With the Dolphins paying $7MM of the $26.6MM Ramsey was owed this season, Rapoport reports the Steelers will be responsible for the remainder of that total. Pittsburgh will thus pay him $19.6MM in 2025.

Adding an unexpected layer to this blockbuster deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is headed the other way in the swap. Fitzpatrick began his career in Miami, and the former first-rounder was dealt to the Steelers in 2019. He will now return to his original team for 2025. This represents the first time since 2002 there have been players with five or more Pro Bowl nods traded for one another (h/t Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).

Rapoport notes the Rams and Steelers were the two main Ramsey suitors, with Los Angeles long representing the expected destination in this situation. He adds Pittsburgh was out of the running until very recently, but that has obviously changed rather quickly. Ramsey himself has confirmed that he is headed to the Steelers, which will be his fourth career team.

The three-time All-Pro spent the past two seasons in Miami, rebounding from his injury-shortened 2023 campaign to play a full slate last year. Ramsey appeared set to remain in South Beach for the foreseeable future when he agreed to a lucrative extension last offseason, but a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel led to the mutual decision a parting of ways would be best. Ramsey was on the trade block through the spring, but the list of suitors publicly expressing interest proved to be rather short.

Rams head coach Sean McVay made it clear the team was open to a Ramsey reunion (after he helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2021). Finances were a sticking point in this case, however. The seven-time Pro Bowler has already received a $4MM roster bonus from Miami, but his outstanding $21MM-plus in compensation for the year is guaranteed. Ramsey is on the books for another three yeas after the coming campaign, but an adjustment to his pact has been expected upon arrival with an acquiring team.

Despite a limited market emerging, the Dolphins remained steadfast in their desire to move on from Ramsey. The 30-year-old has proven to be one of the league’s top corners over the course of his career, although age will become a concern during his Steelers tenure. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh’s CB depth chart now includes another standout veteran after the team added Darius Slay in free agency. Those two will join returnee Joey Porter Jr. in a secondary which will look much different in 2025.

Fitzpatrick only played 18 games during his first Dolphins tenure. Expectations were high for the former No. 11 pick, but his departure came about as part of the team’s maneuvering in advance of the 2020 draft (which brought about the selection of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa). Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick shone and earned first-team All-Pro honors. He remained productive through the following years.

However, things took an unwanted turn following the 2022 campaign (one in which Fitzpatrick recorded a league-leading six interceptions). Over the past two seasons, the Alabama product has been limited to just one pick and seven pass deflections while operating in different areas on the field. A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzpatrick will aim to return to his previous form during his second Dolphins stint. His original team has a notable vacancy at the cornerback spot, but he will provide starting play at the safety position.

Two years remain on Fitzpatrick’s contract, and he is set to carry cap charges of $22.36MM and $24.46MM as things stand. With none of his remaining base salaries guaranteed, the Steelers will create $15.5MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of only $6.86MM. Those figures will help absorb the incoming Ramsey pact.

Pittsburgh has made a number of aggressive moves this offseason, deviating from standard operating procedure. The additions of Aaron Rodgers and D.K Metcalf were aimed at upgrading on offense, a unit which has been further augmented with today’s blockbuster. Ramsey will aim to further fuel the team’s Super Bowl aspirations for what will likely be a one-and-done Rodgers season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, will move forward in 2025 with a much different core in terms of veterans on both sides of the ball.

Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith

June 30th, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Part of the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick blockbuster will see the Dolphins and Steelers agree to another swap. Tight end Jonnu Smith is headed to Pittsburgh.

With the dust having settled on all portions of this singular trade (which is now official), here are the full details (courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport):

Steelers receive:

Ramsey
Smith
2027 seventh-round pick

Dolphins receive:

Fitzpatrick
2027 fifth-round pick

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Smith will receive a one-year, $12MM extension upon arrival in Pittsburgh, allowing him to earn a raise as hoped. Finances were a sticking point between he and the Dolphins. Smith preferred to remain in Miami, but after enjoying a career year and setting a new franchise record for tight end production he aimed to parlay his play into a new pact.

On more than one occasion, the Steelers emerged as a potential landing spot for Smith in the event no new Dolphins pact could be worked out. Talks on a Miami extension took place, but the 29-year-old’s absence from minicamp was a sign this situation could end in a change of scenery. After only one year with the Dolphins, Smith is indeed on the move once again. Of course, today’s news means he is in store for another reunion with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Jonnu and Arthur Smith worked together with the Titans and again when they were alongside each other with the Falcons. The latter took on OC duties in Pittsburgh last season, overseeing an offense which used both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback. QB1 duties are now held by Aaron Rodgers, who will likely retire after this season. The Steelers are certainly not being shy in terms of notable moves on both sides of the ball in preparation for the coming campaign.

Pittsburgh already has Pat Freiermuth in place at the tight end spot. The former second-rounder is under contract through 2028, something which made a potential Smith move a somewhat awkward one. Now that it is in place, though, the Steelers can be expected to lean heavily on two-tight end sets. With uncertainly looming over the team’s WR options aside from D.K. Metcalf, Smith will give Pittsburgh a veteran pass-catching option.

The former third-rounder posted a statline of 88-884-8 last season, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Expectations will be high for Smith with his fifth NFL team given his production and the fact he will be in a familiar scheme. For the Dolphins, meanwhile, Ramsey’s departure has created a notable vacancy at the CB position; the loss of Smith will likewise leave the team short on experienced tight ends.

The 2025 offseason has seen a major exodus in terms of veterans in Miami, by means of free agent departures, releases and trades. As the Dolphins look to bounce back from last year’s underwhelming campaign, they will do so with a slew of new faces on both sides of the ball. Smith is now under contract for the next two years. He will look to operate as a complementary option for Rodgers and Co. as Pittsburgh takes a run at a Super Bowl in 2025.

Steelers Receiving T.J. Watt Trade Interest; Extension Remains Goal

June 30th, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers’ willingness to trade one star defender could inspire attempts to acquire T.J. Watt amid his contract standoff with the team.

Multiple teams have been exploring trading for Watt since he skipped Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added that “sources believe outside team interest is likely to increase given today’s trade.” Schefter also noted that “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and 10 minutes later, that was confirmed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The Steelers have no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt’s contract, per sources,” wrote Pelissero. That aligns with virtually every other report regarding the situation, which have expressed confidence that the two sides will come to an agreement before the season.

It is easy to see why the Steelers want to hold onto Watt, who ranks second in the NFL with 30.5 sacks since 2023. All of the team’s offseason moves, especially their signing of Aaron Rodgers, indicates their intention to try to compete in 2025, but dealing Watt would be a critical blow to their pass rush.

However, the Steelers are planning to draft a quarterback early in the 2026 draft, which could be part of a broader organizational reset. The team’s success under Mike Tomlin has consistently positioned their top pick in the back half of the first round, making it difficult to acquire a top quarterback prospect. A sizable offer for Watt could draw Pittsburgh’s attention if they believe it will help them land a franchise signal-caller in 2026.

A number of edge rushers have been traded in the last few years, but none have merited a first-round pick (or equivalent value) since the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb in 2022. The Steelers should be able to get at least as much for Watt, even considering his contract demands, based on his age and the Hall of Fame-caliber resume he has compiled. But they seem to have little desire to hear such offers until and unless they have exhausted every possible path for an extension.

Dolphins Feeling Positive Effects From Trading Jalen Ramsey

June 30th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s no secret that today’s big trade was the result of a bit of bad blood between veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins. While it can be tough for fans to watch their favorite players depart for greener pastures, the trade is ultimately a net positive for both Ramsey and Miami.

According to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier made it known that “Ramsey did not ask for a salary adjustment or a trade.” He did make it clear, though, that he thought it was in the best interest of both parties to part ways. In that sense, Ramsey got his wish today, and per Louis-Jacques, so, too, did the Dolphins.

Louis-Jacques reports that, following a disappointing 8-9 campaign in 2024, the relationship between Ramsey and the team “soured.” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald echoed this sentiment today, saying that “Ramsey was unhappy in Miami for reasons that he never fully explained,” though Ramsey implied that, in his view, the Dolphins harbored a “willingness to accept mediocrity.”

Regardless, the team was looking for a culture change in the building, and when searching for names that could add to the team through their subtraction, Ramsey’s came up. So, in the end, both parties got what they wanted today.

Miami likely also feels accomplished in what they returned by offloading Ramsey. After throwing in tight end Jonnu Smith as a sweetener, the Dolphins were able to exchange two of their older contributors for a younger one that filled a major position of need. Jackson pointed out how, in the aftermath of the news breaking, several teams were surprised to see Miami get the value it did out of difficult situation. Now, doing so certainly made them extremely thin at the cornerback and tight ends positions, and the team has already begun to address that, but it also provided them some flexibility that they can now use to help fix those problem spots.

The Dolphins made an offer to veteran free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas back in May, per Jackson, but Douglas rejected the offer. Similarly, they inquired about Asante Samuel Jr. after his rookie contract with the Chargers expired. Jackson adds that the team told another free agent cornerback that they were hoping to gain “clarity on (Ramsey’s situation) before moving forward with anyone expecting a sizable contract.” They kept in contact with Douglas, and Samuel remains unsigned as he recovers from neck surgery. Other veteran cornerbacks, like James Bradberry, Stephon Gilmore, Mike Hilton, and C.J. Henderson, remain on the market, as well.

And, now, with the clarity and cap relief from this trade, the Dolphins have a bit of breathing room they can utilize to fill these holes. Instead of shouldering Ramsey’s $16.7MM cap hit, they only have to stomach $6.7MM of dead money. Even after Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s cap impact is factored in, the team is left with over $15MM in cap space. Even better, any of that unused cap can be rolled over into next year, when the Dolphins have to contend with $18MM in dead money from Ramsey’s contract, though that figure also improved from $25MM as a result of the trade.

So, with no negative implications, we can see where the Dolphins could be happier having parted ways with Ramsey. They gave Ramsey the change of scenery he desired, initiated a change in culture in their building, and did so in a way that allows them to try and build a better team.

Jalen Ramsey Could See Hybrid Role In Pittsburgh

June 30th, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Ely Allen

In the aftermath of today’s headlining trade, many questions arose concerning the ramifications of the roster changes. Namely, a big one of these questions was centered around the idea of, now that the Steelers have brought in some cornerback help, how do they address the new hole at safety? The answer to that question could come in a couple different forms.

The simplest answer is the most obvious one: next man up. Earlier in the offseason, Pittsburgh signed Juan Thornhill to serve in a third safety role behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott. It was a role that Damontae Kazee filled in 2024, but Kazee was not re-signed after his contract expired. The team could just count on Thornhill, who has started 74 of 87 game appearances in his six-year career, to step up next to Elliott, but Pittsburgh may have other ideas.

Jalen Ramsey has been an outstanding outside cornerback throughout his professional career, playing about 80 percent of his NFL snaps at the position, but he’s excelled elsewhere in the past. As one of the top recruits in Florida State’s 2013 signing class, Ramsey played a big role for a true freshman as one of the school’s two starting safeties. The following year Ramsey led the Seminoles defense with most of his snaps coming in the slot. In his final collegiate season, Ramsey played most of his defensive snaps at outside cornerback.

He stayed at outside corner for most of his NFL career, starting in Jacksonville. After a move to Los Angeles, the Rams decided to start giving him some more work in the slot in his sixth NFL season. In the slot, his coverage abilities allowed him to stay with receivers on the inside, but his size allowed him to cover tight ends and stop the run. His versatile usage in college prepared him perfectly for that role, and it resulted in All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl.

ESPN’s Ben Solak speculates that a full-time move to “safety might maximize Ramsey’s remaining athleticism and football intelligence.” Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show speculates that the Steelers may see more value in Ramsey’s versatility and use him in a hybrid role that sees him playing at outside corner, nickelback, and safety. NFL Insider Josina Anderson went even further, asserting that, barring the future addition of another a true free safety, Pittsburgh could field a base defense with three cornerbacks and one safety on the field.

Where most teams’ base defense would feature two of each position with an additional cornerback coming onto the field in packages that require more defensive backs, Anderson believes that the Steelers could field a secondary with Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, Elliott at strong safety, and Ramsey at free, until they need to run with five in the secondary, in which case Ramsey would shift up into the nickel or outside cornerback role, allowing Thornhill to come in at safety. Or, perhaps, Ramsey stays at safety, and the fifth defensive back is last year’s primary nickelback, Beanie Bishop.

There are many possible solutions to this equation. Adding Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the roster certainly made the team better, albeit a bit older and more expensive. Pittsburgh has had a busy offseason buying several new (used) toys from Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf to Robert Woods to Slay and Ramsey. Now it’s up to the league’s longest-tenured head coach to make sure all his new toys play well together.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick To Benefit From Positional Consistency

June 30th, 2025 at 7:15pm CST by Ely Allen

In today’s headline-grabbing trade, the Dolphins gave up a lot to bring back safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a late-round pick swap in next year’s draft. While Miami is welcoming back a three-time first-team All-Pro defender who has qualified for five Pro Bowls, including the last three, Fitzpatrick isn’t viewed quite as highly as he has been in the past. He sought a trade from the team that drafted him because of issues with his role on the defense, but now, he should benefit from a return to his first team because of the role that they need him to fill.

As ESPN’s Brooke Pryor points out, part of the reason Fitzpatrick became an expendable piece of the Steelers defense is because his production in the past two seasons did not quite justify his $22MM cap hit in 2025. His 2023 struggles seemed to be the result of injuries and an expectation for Fitzpatrick to play a bit out of position. The 2023 campaign saw a significant increase of his snaps in the box for the first time in his career, and as a result, he failed to contribute any game-changing moments, as he was not in his usual position to do so.

This same type of issue is what led to Fitzpatrick’s departure from Miami in first place. After a rookie year in which he was utilized mostly as a strong safety, then-defensive coordinator Patrick Graham attempted to experiment with Fitzpatrick across different roles in the secondary, opting to play him in a nickelback role while starting Bobby McCain and Reshad Jones at safety. After getting torched by Lamar Jackson in the season opener of his sophomore campaign, 59-10, the Dolphins gave Fitzpatrick permission to seek a trade when he expressed dissatisfaction with his positional role.

Immediately upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick found a nearly full-time home at the safety position and rewarded the Steelers with his first All-Pro season. Over his first four years in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick reeled in 17 interceptions (three for touchdowns) and logged 38 passes defensed, earning two more All-Pro honors in the process.

In 2023, though, the team brought in Damontae Kazee and shifted Fitzpatrick’s role. All of the sudden, Fitzpatrick was playing a quarter of his defensive snaps in the box and another quarter in the slot. The addition of DeShon Elliott helped in 2024, getting him back into a true high safety role for the majority of the time, but the team still gave him a significant snap share in the box that year, as well. Over that span, Fitzpatrick’s plays on the ball decreased drastically, only amounting to one interception and seven passes defensed in two years.

Now, he heads back to South Beach, and in Miami, they need a safety. Now far-removed from the days of positional dispute, the Dolphins are in a place where they are trying to recover from the departures of both starting safeties from the 2024 season, Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. Before acquiring Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu were expected to fill out the starting defense. Both players have extremely limited experience in starting safety roles, so Fitzpatrick is certain to come in as the team’s new best safety.

Now, Fitzpatrick returns to Miami to claim his rightful spot in the secondary. He’s older (28) and has a bit more of an injury history, but a return to a full-time safety role should do him good. The Dolphins were confident enough in that outcome that they traded away two impact players to bring him in, though one player notably did not want to be in Miami.

Dolphins Seeking TE, CB Trade Acquisitions

June 30th, 2025 at 5:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After sending Jonnu Smith to the Steelers this morning, the Dolphins are exploring a trade for a new tight end with multiple teams, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The team is also interested in adding help at cornerback after parting ways with Jalen Ramsey in the same deal, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald.

Smith was not only Miami’s starting tight end in 2024; he led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns with 884 receiving yards that trailed only Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins will be expecting bounce-back years from Hill and Jaylen Waddle to boost their passing offense, but Smith’s departure leaves the tight end room without a clear starter.

Currently, their most experienced player at the position is veteran Pharaoh Brown, who has started 18 games in the last two years (and a total of 54 in his seven-year career), but topped 200 receiving yards in a season just once. 2023 undrafted free agent Julian Hill has carved out a robust snap share as a blocking tight end, but he only has 18 career catches for 148 yards. Rounding out the group are Hayden Rucci, Tanner Conner, and undrafted rookie Jalin Conyers, none of whom have proven themselves in the NFL.

As a result, the Dolphins are looking elsewhere to bolster their tight end group, with Raiders tight end Michael Mayer named as an early potential target. The 2023 No. 35 pick is a player that “Miami has had their eye on…for a while,” according to Kelly, who noted that Mayer had “some on and off-field challenges” in his first two years in Las Vegas. He has missed nine games since being drafted with an average of fewer than 20 yards per game.

However, the Raiders have “no interest” in moving Mayer, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, with a major role expected for him this season. Despite the addition of Brock Bowers last offseason, Mayer maintained a 63% snap share as the team’s’ inline tight end when healthy with Bowers spending a majority of his time in the slot.

If Mayer is unavailable, another tight end to monitor is Kyle Pitts, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. He drew trade interest earlier this offseason that was not rebuffed by the Falcons, indicating their potential willingness to part ways with the former No. 4 pick.

No details have emerged regarding the Dolphins’ pursuit of cornerback help, though the team has been in touch with multiple available veterans this offseason. The free agent pool is deeper at cornerback than it is at tight end, so the Dolphins may prioritize the latter position in a trade and use their newfound cap space to add a corner.

Cowboys, Commanders Did Not Make Free Agent Offers To Saquon Barkley

June 30th, 2025 at 12:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last year’s edition of the HBO Hard Knocks: Offseason series featured plenty of insights into Saquon Barkley‘s negotiating process with the Giants. His departure on the open market took place in the form of an Eagles pact (one which proved to be quite worthwhile, to say the least) after other inquiries were fielded.

Barkley has previously noted that he received four offers during his free agency last spring. At least two of those were more lucrative than the three-year, $37.75MM pact he ultimately signed with Philadelphia. Giants owner John Mara was notably concerned about the possibility of Barkley signing with an NFC East rival, but it turns out the Eagles were the only suitor in that division.

The 2024 rushing champion said at a recent charity softball game (video link) that neither the Cowboys nor the Commanders reached out to express free agent interest. Dallas has been the subject of criticism at that position given the links made between the team and All-Pro Derrick Henry. The Cowboys never made an offer in his case, paving the way for a Ravens agreement and a season which featured 2,114 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns. Henry parlayed that production into a Baltimore extension this offseason.

Dallas saw Tony Pollard expectedly depart in 2024 after playing on the franchise tag the previous season. The team’s committee approach did not work as planned, and Rico Dowdle assumed starting duties en route to a career year. The former UDFA topped 1,000 rushing yards and took a deal with the Panthers on the open market. Efforts to replace his production resulted in one-year contracts for Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The Cowboys also selected Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah on Day 3 of this year’s draft.

The Commanders, meanwhile, have relied on Brian Robinson Jr. for each of the past three seasons. Austin Ekeler was added in free agency last spring. That tandem (along with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels) helped Washington to a third-place finish in rushing in 2024, and it will remain in place for at least one more season. Barkley certainly would have added more potential to the team’s backfield, but given the team’s emphasis on defensive changes during the transition to the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime it is understandable no pursuit took place on that front.

On the back of his historic debut Eagles season, Barkley landed an extension moving him to the top of the position’s pecking order. The 28-year-old has no intention or retiring any time soon, so he is in line to remain in Philadelphia for years to come. That will ensure several more matchups against the Cowboys and Commanders in the coming years.

Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed Fully Healthy

June 30th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

L’Jarius Sneed was limited to just five games in 2024, his debut campaign with the Titans. While the most recent update on his health status suggested a lengthy wait would be in store for his return to the field, that may not wind up being the case.

“I’m healthy, I’m healthy as I’ve been,” the veteran corner said in an interview with NBC6 (video link). “I’m ready to get back on the field, that’s my life, that’s what I do for a living. I missed the whole year and I have to remind everybody who L’Jarius Sneed is.”

After four years with the Chiefs – most of which was spent as a full-time starter – Sneed received the franchise tag last spring. In keeping with organizational policy, a long-term cornerback investment was not a high of a priority as other roster moves, and a trade to the Titans was ultimately worked out. Tennessee sent Kansas City a second- and third-round pick to acquire the 28-year-old.

That swap was followed by a four-year, $76.4MM extension being worked out. Expectations were high in Sneed’s case as a result, but prior to suffering his quad injury the Louisiana Tech product struggled in coverage without managing to demonstrate the ball skills he showcased with the Chiefs. Sneed wound up on injured reserve to close out the campaign, and one month ago the fall was floated as a potential point at which he could return to full health.

Now, however, it appears the former fourth-rounder could receive full clearance in time for next month’s training camp. That would be a welcomed development given his status as a key member of the secondary. Sneed is owed $19MM fully guaranteed for 2025, meaning a trade or release is not feasible. The final two years of his pact could very well be impacted by his performance this season, though.

Without locked in money (at the moment) in 2026 or ’27, Sneed will need to remain healthy this season to avoid a potential pay cut or a parting of ways next spring. It now appears he will be in position to do so well in advance of Week 1.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins On Health Status; Latest On Trade Market

June 29th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Rory Parks

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, one of the most prominent names in this offseason’s news cycle, remains with Atlanta despite being an obvious trade/release candidate. After Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers, the last team that realistically would install Cousins as a QB1 took itself off the list of potential destinations, leaving the soon-to-be 37-year-old on track to be the most expensive backup signal-caller in NFL history.

While Cousins obviously would like to be traded or released so he can finish his career atop someone’s depth chart, he seems resigned to the fact that he may spend at least the 2025 campaign as second-year passer Michael Penix Jr.’s mentor and clipboard holder. Of course, if another club’s starter should get injured at some point before the trade deadline, Cousins could find himself on the move.

But given the way Cousins’ 2024 season ended, it is fair to wonder how even a QB-needy team will view him. In the span of five games from Week 10 to Week 15, he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions and led the Falcons to a 1-4 record, which torpedoed the club’s playoff chances (Atlanta was 6-3 before that point). After that stretch, he was demoted in favor of Penix.

On the other hand, Cousins did sustain a hit to his right arm and shoulder in a Week 10 loss that appeared to have a real and significant impact on his performance. Prior to that game, he had a TD:INT ratio of 17:7, which makes the injury a clear demarcation point between a solid, starter-level showing and a disastrous few weeks that precipitated his benching.

Assuming he is recovered from the Week 10 injury, a team that suddenly has the need for a viable starting option could certainly convince itself that Cousins, despite his age, can be the player he was in the first half of the 2024 season and throughout much of his time in Minnesota. To that point, Cousins says he expects his health to be a non-issue.

“I think I’ve still got a little bit more to go but very encouraged by the progress I’ve made since January,” Cousins told reporters, including ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, at this month’s mandatory minicamp. “So, even jogging out here today, just very encouraged by what I felt compared to where I was even like six weeks ago out here throwing with the guys. And I believe there’s more progress up ahead, too.”

Cousins also addressed the Achilles tear that prematurely ended his 2023 season, his last as a member of the Vikings. Per Raimondi, Cousins says he was not as healthy as he believed he was going into 2024, which may or may not jibe with comments he made in an appearance on Good Morning Football: Overtime back in February.

During that interview, Cousins said the Achilles healed well and that, although he was also trying to get his right ankle “back,” those issues did not impact his play too much, as evidenced by the 6-3 start and his overall body of work in the first half of last season. But in his comments several weeks ago, Cousins said that while he focused on strengthening his ankle after the Achilles tear, he did not work enough on his mobility, which affected him negatively.

In any case, it sounds as if he will be at full strength if Atlanta or some other team should call on him in 2025. Fortunately, Cousins did not require any offseason surgeries on his arm or shoulder, nor any follow-up procedures on his Achilles or ankle.

One of the obstacles to a trade is the fully-guaranteed $27.5MM salary that Cousins is due this year, as well as the $10MM roster bonus for 2026 that has already vested. Raimondi believes the Falcons would be willing to pull the trigger on a deal if the acquiring team takes on $10MM of Cousins’ 2025 pay (that team would be liable for the 2026 roster bonus as well).

Raimondi confirms recent reports indicating there is no trade market at the moment, though he also believes such a market could quickly form in the event of an injury to another team’s starting QB. Assuming the Falcons and a prospective suitor agree to trade terms, Cousins would surely waive his no-trade clause for the opportunity to start elsewhere.

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